Treehouse Update

I know, I’ve been super lame-o with posting, but what else is new?  School is finally out and all that craziness leading up to the big LAST DAY had us a bit busy.

We worked really hard over Memorial Day weekend to get the treehouse in sleepover condition, and we did it.  Barely.  This does not mean we are finished by ANY means, but it does mean that you can hang out in there without getting attacked by cicadas and mosquitoes.  The last steps in bug proofing were to screen the ventilation gaps between the roof supports and the dormer over the screened door.

The CC then added weather stripping all around the screened door, and started caulking every. single. join.  Don’t believe me?  Check the fastidiousness of his entomophobic work.

He’s not done yet, but he managed to finish the most important places.  I was rendered speechless when I realized why it was taking him so long to caulk the ventilation area.  Dude is serious.

Come sleepover time, it was a tight squeeze, but all 4 of us managed to get some air mattress space on the floor with just enough clearance for the door to open.  We don’t want to build bunks up here since we’ll have the “sleeping bunker” once the bottom is done.  When it’s just the 2 of them, they have hammocks they can choose to sleep in, or just use for lounging.

We even decided to get a fan going to keep us more comfortable.  We hung it in front of the window to bring in the cooler night air.  When the Things saw our new addition, they said “Cool!  Air conditioning!”  Not quite kiddies, but this is glamping after all.

Given the floor is a bit mucky from all the dirt, despite multiple sweepings, I threw down a canvas drop cloth as some sloppy wall to wall carpeting to keep our stuff clean.

What’s left to do? A lot more than you’d think.

Porch railings.  We have some hog panel left that we will use.  We plan to have a barn door that will slide and lock over the screened one.  We’ll just get some inexpensive hardware from Tractor Supply.

I also plan to re-do the screen door so that it has horizontal slats going all the way up over the dormer to the top.  This is the way it came off the shelf.  Blech.

Add trim around the inside windows, build shelves in between the studs for both structural support and general usefulness.  The CC has to finish that anal caulking…and paint!  LOTS of paint.  Part of me is fine leaving it natural inside, but it will be easier to keep clean if it’s painted.  We won’t start to build the bottom level until it cools off in the fall.  It’s officially sticky out now.  We’re getting there though.

Ye Olde Arrington

Did we go back to England?!  Nope.  Try the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.  There is a “castle” in the middle of the Tennessee countryside, just down the road from the Tractor Supply, (aren’t they all?) with a complete set up for the month long festival.  The Things and I decided we needed a little adventure over the holiday weekend, so we headed out to Arrington, TN to check out the fayre.

Sadly, we didn’t take the castle tour this year, so no snaps…that line was crazy long.

If you’ve never been to a Renaissance or Medieval Festival, you need to fix that.  Treat yourself.  The people watching alone is worth the price of the ticket.  Carnie GOLD.  The Things were captivated, and even a bit scared at times, but in the end we had a HUGE time.

When we saw this guy…all I could think of was this.  That song was stuck in my head ALL AFTERNOON.

The fairies/elves were everywhere…we were in love with the ears…..

I wouldn’t be a true patron of the festival if I didn’t partake in a little something…..maybe even something that might embarrass my kids?

Indeed, it is.

Turns out they LOVED it.  Gotta try harder next time.

Friday Flea

It felt so good to get out to the flea today…I’ve missed a few and there has been a gaping hole in my heart longing for an outdoor dig of dusty, musty treasures.

 

 

Kenny Loggins was the first thing my eyes landed on when I walked in.  I took this as a good sign that this might be a good day of junkin’.  He, who popularized the parachute prison jumpsuit as high fashion, stood as a beacon to all who entered.

 

This was only $2, and I should have dragged it home, but it was super rusty and I had visions of it sitting in my garage for 3 years waiting for the CC to pour a concrete top for it, like this….

Oh well, someone will do something fun with those legs I hope.

These stools looked new, but someone could tweak them a bit to give them that little sumtin’ sumtin’.

 

 

Some say Vintage Vultures, some say Lucky Buzzards.  THIS guy is exactly why I adore the flea.

 

The pair of Nelson headboards wasn’t going to last long, but I just don’t have room in the booth and I don’t need them…but aren’t they lovely?  This lighted bedside table is a piece I had never seen before.  If it hadn’t been packaged with the headboards I’d have snatched it up.

 

I grabbed my camera as I was rushing out the door and I had the zoom lens on…this proved very difficult in tight spaces, like here, where I couldn’t get far enough back to get a full shot.  I hate it when I do dumbass things like that.

So what did I get?

A bench,

 

…and a super groovy vintage lamp for the booth…the pale part of the base has a bulb in it so it glows when lit.

 

I also got these….

 

…two desk lamps and this nightstand.  I’m beside myself excited about this nightstand….check it…

 

American of Martinsville solid wood goodness needs some cleaning and refinishing, but she will GLEAM when she’s done…GLEAM I tell you.

A successful couple of days after the junkin’ drought of late.  Now to attend some social gatherings involving the required grills and beer to kick off a nice long weekend.  Have a great holiday everyone!

Estate Sale

I found two/three things at an estate sale today.  One I’m super excited about, the other, I hope someone else will be excited about.  Both need lots of work though.  Can you guess which is which?

 

OK, so the chandy is not my style at all, but I bought it for the booth.  It’s more in line with the mainstream market here.  It’s thick with dust and I wasn’t planning to paint it, but on closer inspection, I am considering it.

Can we get to the good part now?  The CHAIRS!  Yipee!

These 70’s lovelies were sitting on the front porch of a Victorian house looking so lonely and out of place.  Come to mama.

The chrome is needing love, and they must be recovered, but I can do both myself, so that’s just time.

I stopped and bought some Coke Zero under the guise of chair cleaning.  I’ve been trying to stop drinking those damn things for years now.  THEY REMOVE RUST after all! I make it a few weeks, then I fall off the wagon.

My attraction to chrome furniture and accessories that need rehabbing is enabling my addiction to diet soda.  This is not good for me, but it’s great for the house.  “Did you hear about that lady who lives on the hill?  She crumbled from phosphoric acid leaching all the calcium out of her bones, so she just became a shmooo…but her house looks great.  Really shiny furniture.”

Oh, and the flea is this weekend and I feel like I haven’t been in for. ever.  Chrome anyone?

Bushwacking…again.

I created a path leading to the front of the treehouse this weekend….it required VERY CAREFUL bushwacking with lots of repellent and immediate showering with copious amounts of tea tree soap.

Until now, we have taken a short cut coming in from the left, but it’s steep there and a bit hazardous when muddy. We are used to it, but our future visitors might be annoyed.  Nothing like biting it on a muddy slope to brighten your day….

I need to cut through the old railroad tie to create an official opening from the main trail, but I’m skeered of chainsaws, so I have to wait for the CC on that one.  I have found my appendages to be quite useful over the years…I know, so selfish.